Seed dispersal by the Florida box turtle (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Terrapene carolina bauri</Emphasis>) in pine rockland forests of the lower Florida Keys,United States

Seed dispersal by animals is one of the most important plant-animal mutualisms, but saurochory, the dispersal of seeds by reptiles, has received little attention. We investigated the role of the Florida box turtle (Terrapene carolina bauri) as a seed dispersal agent in pine rockland forests of the lower Florida Keys and examined the effect of turtle digestion on seed germination. We obtained seeds of 11 species with fleshy fruits and 2 species with non-fleshy fruits (a grass and legume) from the feces of 145 box turtles collected on Key Deer National Wildlife Refuge from 1999 to 2000. We planted the seeds of nine species and germination percentage (percentage of seeds that germinated during the experiment) varied from 10% to 80%. Comparative germination experiments were conducted with Thrinax morrissii, Serenoa repens, and Byrsonima lucida. We compared the germination percentage and germination rate (number of days from planting to seedling emergence) of seeds from three treatments (seeds recovered from feces, control seeds with pulp, and control seeds without pulp) and continued these experiments for up to 2 years. Passage through the box turtle digestive tract greatly enhanced the germination percentage and germination rate of S. repens, but decreased the germination percentage of B. lucida and T. morrissii, and decreased germination rate for T. morrissii. Subsequent destructive seed viability tests revealed that many ungerminated T. morrissii seeds remained viable, suggesting long-term seed dormancy may occur, even after passage through the turtle digestive system. In addition, the proportion of ungerminated seeds which remained viable was greater for seeds recovered from turtle feces than from control seeds with pulp. Furthermore, removal of fleshy pulp either manually or by the turtle digestive system may allow T. morrissii to escape insect predation.     

Seed dispersal by pygmy chimpanzees (Pan paniscus): A preliminary report

The role in seed dispersal played by the pygmy chimpanzees (Pan paniscus) inhabiting Wamba, Republic of Zaïre, was studied. Germination was tested for seeds of 17 plant species recovered from the feces of pygmy chimpanzees at Wamba. The fecal seeds of 13 species germinated, and in six of the species the germination rate for the fecal seeds was higher than that of control seeds. Although five other species showed a higher germination rate in the control seeds than in the fecal seeds, the remaining two species revealed no difference in germination rate between the fecal and control seeds. There was no great difference in germination velocity between the fecal and control seeds of the same species. For comparison, seeds of four plant species collected from the feces of common chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and gibbons (Hylobates lar) in captivity in Okinawa were tested for their germinability. In this test, although the seeds had passed through the digestive tract, their germinability demonstrated little change. Based on the behavioral characteristics of the pygmy chimpanzee at Wamba and observations of the captive primates on Okinawa, it seems that pygmy chimpanzees may play an important role in the seed dispersal of fruit plant species at Wamba.     

Effect of different primate species on germination of Ficus (Urostigma) seeds

We examined the germination of Ficus seeds (subgenus Urostigma) after defecation by six primate species (New World monkeys, Old World monkeys, and apes). Seeds from figs (control) and primate feces were placed in a thermostatically controlled chamber for 30 days. Seeds defecated by Alouatta palliata, A. pigra, and Cercopithecus aethiops showed significantly higher germination rates than control seeds. In addition, seeds from A. palliata feces germinated significantly faster than control seeds and seeds from C. aethiops and Pan troglodytes. These differences may be due to the different digestive characteristics of the six primate species. Zoo Biol 23:273–278, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Endozoochorous seed dispersal by sympatric mustelids, Martes melampus and Mustela itatsi, in western Tokyo, central Japan

We investigated seed dispersal by two sympatric mustelid species, the Japanese marten (Martes melampus) and Japanese weasel (Mustela itatsi), along an intercity forest path in western Tokyo, central Japan, from Jul 2007 to Jul 2008. We aimed to investigate the effect of food/habitat preference of these mustelids (martens are semi-arboreal frugivores while weasels are terrestrial carnivores) on their seed dispersal characteristics, which determine their efficacy as seed dispersers. In total, we analyzed 478 fecal samples collected from the two mustelids (N_marten = 381, N_weasel = 97). The proportions of feces containing seeds for martens and weasels were 81.4% and 55.7%, respectively. The number of plant species whose seeds were found within the feces were 28 and 17, respectively. Almost all seeds within feces of both mustelids were intact. The number of plant species whose seeds were found within a single fecal sample ranged from one to four, but no significant difference was detected between the two mustelids. However, marten feces contained a significantly greater number of seeds of most plant species as well as total number of seeds than did weasel feces. The numbers of plant species and seeds represented in marten feces varied seasonally, but those represented in weasel feces did not. Our findings suggest the possibility that both mustelids act in some ways as seed dispersers, although martens seem to disperse a greater diversity and total amount of seeds.     

Effects of gut passage,feces, and seed handling on latency and rate of germination in seeds consumed by capuchins (Cebus capucinus)

One of the key measures of the effectiveness of primary seed dispersal by animals is the quality of seed dispersal (Schupp: Plant Ecol 107/108 [1993] 15–29). We present data on quality of seed dispersal by two groups of white‐faced capuchins (Cebus capucinus) in Costa Rica to test the hypothesis that capuchin seed handling results in effective primary dispersal for some fruit species they consume. We examined seed handling for 27 plant species, and germination rates of 18 species consumed by capuchins. For five of the most commonly swallowed seed species, we determined germination rates and average time to germination (latency) for seeds ingested and defecated by capuchins and compared these to seeds removed directly from fruit and planted. For the same five species, we compared germination rates and latency for passed seeds planted in capuchin feces to those cleaned of feces and planted in soil. For three of five species, differences in proportion of germinated seeds were significantly higher for gut passed seeds than for controls. For four of five species, germination latency was significantly faster for gut passed seeds than for controls. Feces had either no effect on seed germination rate or precluded germination. Data presented here support the hypothesis that white‐faced capuchins are effective primary dispersers. Am J Phys Anthropol 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) Seed Dispersal in an Afromontane Forest: Microhabitat Influences on the Postdispersal Fate of Large Seeds1

We examined the postdispersal fate of large seeds (≥5 mm) dispersed by chimpanzees in an afromontane forest to evaluate aspects of the effectiveness of seed dispersal by chimpanzees, Pan troglodytes. We assessed the influence of six microhabitat characteristics on seed persistence and germination in seeds dispersed in chimpanzee feces and “wadges.” A total of 257 fecal samples and 56 wadges were located over a 4‐mo period by tracking a semi‐habituated chimpanzee community on day follows. Forty‐nine (19.1%) of the fecal samples contained large seeds from five different tree species. The majority of fecal samples with seeds contained seeds from the mature forest tree Olea capensis (Oleaceae) (83.7%). Forty‐two wadges (75%) contained seeds from the mature forest tree Syzygium guineense (Myrtaceae). Seeds were monitored at their deposition site for removal and germination up to 49 d following deposition. We collected data on the microhabitat surrounding each fecal and wadge sample. Multivariate analyses indicated that while fecal and wadge samples were not clustered into particular microhabitats, there was little overlap in the microhabitats in which wadges and fecal samples were deposited. Significantly more seeds persisted over 49 d in wadges (67.9%) than in feces (30.3%). Elevation was the only microhabitat variable determined to have a significant influence on seed persistence, whereas slope was determined to have a significant influence on germination.     

Seed Swallowing in Tamarins: Evidence of a Curative Function or Enhanced Foraging Efficiency?

Nonhuman primates represent a major component of the frugivore biomass in several rain-forest communities. Although there is considerable evidence that prosimians, monkeys, and apes serve as dispersal agents for many tropical trees, little attention has been paid to the more basic questions of why certain species of primates swallow and void seeds, and what, if any, are the advantages to an animal of having a large, hard, bolus pass through its digestive tract. We examine patterns of fruit-eating and seed-swallowing in two species of free-ranging tamarins: Saguinus mystax and Saguinus geoffroyi. Fruits commonly eaten by tamarins contain large seeds surrounded by a fibrous and adhesive pulp or arilate seed coat. They generally swallow seeds and pulp together. Intact seeds are voided over a 1- to 3-h period. Measurements of 132 seeds naturally voided by Panamanian tamarins average 11.2 mm in length and 0.3 g. The greatest number of large seeds contained in the digestive tract of a single animal at one time was 13. In the case of moustached tamarins, we collected 220 seeds. Average seed length is 11.9 mm and average seed weight is 0.3 g. At the time of capture, one animal had 26 seeds in its digestive tract. In both tamarin species, there is evidence of sex-based differences in feeding behavior. Adult female moustached and Panamanian tamarins swallowed and voided seeds of larger size than adult males did. Seed size is positively correlated with pulp weight (p <. 001), therefore females were selecting food items with higher nutritional rewards than adult males did. Given their small body size and relatively short digestive tract, why do tamarins swallow such large seeds? Although several explanations are possible, we propose that the large number and size of undigested seeds continuously passing through the tamarin gut serve a curative role in mechanically dislodging and expelling intestinal parasites—Ancanthocephala (spiny-headed worms)—from their digestive tracts.     

Effectiveness of Spider Monkeys (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ateles geoffroyi vellerosus</Emphasis>) as Seed Dispersers in Continuous and Fragmented Rain Forests in Southern Mexico

Seed dispersal is considered a key process determining spatial structure and dynamics of plant populations, and has crucial implications for forest regeneration. We evaluated the effectiveness of spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) as seed dispersers in continuous and fragmented habitats to test if this interaction is altered in forest fragments. We documented fruit and seed handling, defecation patterns, diversity and composition of seeds in feces, and seed germination of defecated and control seeds in the Lacandona rainforest, Mexico. For most species contributing to 80% of total fruit feeding time, monkeys swallowed and spat seeds, but swallowing was the most frequent seed handling category in continuous and fragmented forests. However, the proportion of feeding records of swallowed seeds was higher in continuous forest (0.59) than in fragments (0.46), whereas the opposite was true for proportion of dropped seeds (0.16 vs. 0.31). This pattern was reflected in the number of fecal samples containing seeds, which was greater in continuous (95.5%) than in fragmented forests (82.5%). Seeds in fecal samples included a total of 71 species from 23 plant families. The numbers of defecated seed species were similar between forest conditions, and in both cases most seeds (>86%) were undamaged. Defecated seeds showed greater germination percentages than control seeds in all of the five species evaluated. Although we identified some differences in seed handling and the percentage of feces with seeds between continuous forest and fragments, our results indicate that, in general terms, spider monkeys are effective seed dispersers in both forest conditions.     

Diet of spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) in Mesoamerica: current knowledge and future directions

Here we review all published articles and book chapters, as well as unpublished theses and data of Ateles geoffroyi diet to (1) summarize the literature; (2) synthesize general feeding patterns; (3) document plant taxonomic similarity in diet across study sites; and (4) suggest directions for future research and conservation priorities. We found 22 samples from five countries: Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Panama. Tropical wet forest is the most studied habitat (N=13 samples), followed by tropical dry forest (6) and tropical moist forest (3). Most samples have been carried out in large protected forests. In spite of showing an overall high dietetic diversity (364 species, 76 families), A. geoffroyi concentrated the majority of feeding time on a few species in the families Moraceae and Fabaceae. At all study sites fruits were the most common food item in the diet followed by leaves. Furthermore, a greater variety of food items and less fruit were consumed in forest fragments. These findings suggest that fruit shortage in fragments results in primates using foods of presumably lower energetic content such as leaves. Similarity in diet was higher among groups geographically closer to each other than among distant groups, showing that the floristic and phenological characteristics of the forest can influence diet composition. We conclude that several years of data are required to fully describe the dietary list of A. geoffroyi at any one site, as studies of the same group over different years shared as little as 56% of species. As most populations of A. geoffroyi live in highly fragmented landscapes, it is crucial to carry out studies in these areas to evaluate (1) changes in diet and activity patterns that may negatively affect survival; and (2) habitat attributes that may favor their persistence in altered landscapes.     

The effect of bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) dispersal on seed germination in eastern Mediterranean habitats

The fruit-bat Rousettus aegyptiacus (Pteropodidae) in Israel consumes a variety of cultivated and wild fruits. The aim of this study was to explore some of its qualities as a dispersal agent for six fruit-bearing plant species. The feeding roosts of the fruit-bat are located an average of 30 m from its feeding trees and thus the bats disperse the seeds away from the shade of the parent canopy. The bat spits out large seeds but may pass some (2%) of the small seeds (<4 mg) through its digestive tract. However, neither the deposited seeds nor the ejected seeds (except in one case) had a significantly higher percentage germinating than intact seeds. Although the fruit-bat did not increase the percentage germinating, seeds of three plant species subject to different feeding behaviors (deposited in feces or spat out as ejecta) had a different temporal pattern of germination from the intact seeds. The combined seed germination distribution generated by these different treatments is more even over time than for each treatment alone. It is sugested that this increases asynchronous germination and therefore enhances plant fitness by spreading the risks encountered during germination, especially in eastern Mediterranean habitats where the pattern of rainfall is unpredictable.     

The opossum (Didelphis virginiana) as a host for Sarcocystis debonei from cowbirds (Molothrus ater) and grackles (Cassidix mexicanus, Quiscalus quiscula).

Sarcocystis-infected muscles from ducks, cowbirds, and grackles were fed to cats, opossums, rats, and a dog. Only the opossum (Didelphis virginiana) was a suitable definitive host. All opossums that were fed Sarcocystis-infected cowbirds (Molothrus ater) and grackles (Cassidix mexicanus and Quiscalus quiscula) passed sporocysts in their feces. Opossums that ate the cowbirds had prepatent periods of 5 and 10 days and remained patent for at least 105 days. Opossums that ate the grackles became patent on day 10 after the infective meal and remained patent for over 90 (Quiscalus) and 105 (Cassidix) days. A single opossum fed infected muscle from a pintail duck (Anas acuta) passed sporocysts in the feces from days 13 through 18 after infection. No sporocysts were passed by opossums fed infected muscle from the green-winged teal (Anas carolinensis) and shoveller (Spatula clypeata). Sporocysts of duck, cowbird, and grackle origin were structurally similar. Mean dimensions of sporocysts were: duck-origin, 11.2 by 8.2 micron; cowbird-origin, 11.4 by 7.8 micron; Cassidix-origin, 11.2 by 7.8 micron; and Quiscalus-origin, 11.6 by 7.7 micron. We designate the sporocysts of cowbird and grackle origin as Sarcoycstis debonei Vogelsang, 1929 (Syn. Isospora boughtoni Volk, 1938).     

Neglected seed dispersers: endozoochory by Javan lutungs (Trachypithecus auratus) in Indonesia

Leaf monkeys are known to be leaf eaters, and thus, their potential role as seed dispersers has been neglected. However, they do also feed on fruits. To examine the role of leaf monkeys as endozoochorous seed dispersers, we studied the Javan lutung (Trachypithecus auratus) in Indonesia. We compared multiple aspects of seed dispersal processes (amount and diversity of seeds ingested, dispersal distance, and germination rate) of lutungs with that of the sympatric long‐tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis). Over the study period, 54 percent of the lutung feces contained intact seeds, which was equivalent to the macaque feces contained seeds (62%). Seeds of at least six plant species were detected in the lutung feces, which was less than those found in the macaque feces (>19 plant species). The main species of seeds defecated by both lutungs and macaques was Ficus spp. (seed size: 0.7 mm). Seed shadow, estimated from travel distance (range: 1–299 m) and gut passage rate (24–96 h), had a unimodal‐distribution with a peak at 51–100 m, and was shorter than that reported in published accounts of macaques and other similar and smaller sized frugivores. Finally, germination rates of Ficus spp. seeds ingested by both lutungs and macaques were lower than that of the control seeds. These results imply that the dispersal effectiveness of lutungs would be lower than that of the sympatric primate frugivores. However, at a population level, lutungs could play a significant role as seed dispersers for the small‐seeded species, and therefore, more research into their frugivorous habits is warranted.     

A non‐destructive sampling protocol for field studies of seed dispersal by fishes

This paper presents a standardized protocol for the non‐lethal capture of fishes, sampling of stomach contents and quantification of seed dispersal efficiency by frugivorous fishes. Neotropical pacu Piaractus mesopotamicus individuals were collected with fruit‐baited hooks. The diets of 110 fish were sampled using a lavage method, which retrieved >90% of stomach contents of both juveniles and adults and allowed individuals to recover within 5 min of treatment. The proportional volume of six food categories was similar for stomachs and whole digestive tracts retrieved by dissection. Fruit pulp was proportionally lower in the stomach. The abundance and species richness of intact seeds increased with fish size independent of whether only stomachs or whole digestive tracts were analysed. The analysis of stomach contents accounted for 62·5% of the total species richness of seeds dispersed by P. mesopotamicus and 96% of common seeds (seed species retrieved from more than one fish). Germination trials revealed that seed viability was similar for seeds collected from the stomach via lavage and seeds that passed through the entire digestive tract. Therefore, stomach contents provide an unbiased representation of the dietary patterns and seed dispersal of frugivorous fishes.     

Chimpanzee seed dispersal quantity in a tropical montane forest of Rwanda

We describe chimpanzee seed dispersal in the tropical montane forest of Nyungwe National Park (NNP), Rwanda, for a total of three years from January 1998 through May 2000 and May 2006 through March 2007. Relatively few studies have examined chimpanzee seed dispersal in montane communities where there are generally fewer fruiting tree species than in lowland forests. Such studies may reveal new insights into chimpanzee seed dispersal behaviors and the role that they play in forest regeneration processes. Chimpanzees are large‐bodied, highly frugivorous, and tend to deposit the seeds of both large‐ and small‐seeded fruits they consume in a viable state. We found that chimpanzees dispersed a total of 37 fruiting species (20 families) in their feces, 35% of which were large‐seeded trees (≥0.5 cm). A single large‐seeded tree, Syzygium guineense, was the only species to be dispersed in both wadges and feces. Based on phenological patterns of the top five large‐seeded tree species found in chimpanzee feces, our results indicate that chimpanzees do not choose fruits based on their availability. There was, however, a positive relationship between the presence of Ekebergia capensis seeds in chimpanzee feces and S. guineense seeds in chimpanzee wadges and their respective fruit availabilities. Our data reveal that proportionately fewer chimpanzee fecal samples at NNP contained seeds than that reported in two other communities in the Albertine Rift including one at mid‐elevation and one in montane forest. As in other chimpanzee communities, seeds of Ficus spp. were the most common genus in NNP chimpanzee feces. Our data do not support previous studies that describe Ficus spp. as a fallback food for chimpanzees and highlights an intriguing relationship between chimpanzees and the large‐seeded tree species, S. guineense. Am. J. Primatol. 71:901–911, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

The ecology of seed dispersal in two species of callitrichid primates (Saguinus mystax and Saguinus fuscicollis)

Data collected during a 12-month field investigation of mixed species troops of Saguinus mystax and Saguinus fuscicollis in the Amazon Basin of north-eastern Peru indicate that callitrichid primates play an important role in tropical forest seed dispersal. Moustached and saddle-back tamarins were observed to ingest seeds from a variety of tree and liana species and pass them unharmed. These seeds tended to be large and heavy, and passed through the tamarin digestive tract in one to three hours. Experimental plantings of defecated seeds yielded a germination success rate of 70%. The specific gravity of these seeds (weight/volume) was inversely correlated with passage time and apparently had an indirect influence on the distance that seeds were dispersed from the parent tree. In the case of three preferred fruiting species, Leonia glycycarpa, Pourouma sp., and Hippocrateaceae #283, the present distribution of adult trees closely resembled the pattern of the seed shadow created by Saguinus. Moustached and saddle-back tamarins appeared to be reliable and high-quality dispersal agents for a number of tree and liana species. In this role, they are likely to exert an important influence on the composition, distribution, and regeneration patterns of Amazonian rain forest.     

Frugivory and Seed Dispersal by Northern Pigtailed Macaques (Macaca leonina), in Thailand

Tropical rain forest conservation requires a good understanding of plant–animal interactions. Seed dispersal provides a means for plant seeds to escape competition and density-dependent seed predators and pathogens and to colonize new habitats. This makes the role and effectiveness of frugivorous species in the seed dispersal process an important topic. Northern pigtailed macaques (Macaca leonina) may be effective seed dispersers because they have a diverse diet and process seeds in several ways (swallowing, spitting out, or dropping them). To investigate the seed dispersal effectiveness of a habituated group of pigtailed macaques in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand, we examined seed dispersal quantity (number of fruit species eaten, proportion in the diet, number of feces containing seeds, and number of seeds processed) and quality (processing methods used, seed viability and germination success, habitat type and distance from parent tree for the deposited seeds, and dispersal patterns) via focal and scan sampling, seed collection, and germination tests. We found thousands of seeds per feces, including seeds up to 58 mm in length and from 88 fruit species. Importantly, the macaques dispersed seeds from primary to secondary forests, via swallowing, spitting, and dropping. Of 21 species, the effect of swallowing and spitting was positive for two species (i.e., processed seeds had a higher % germination and % viability than control seeds), neutral for 13 species (no difference in % germination or viability), and negative (processed seeds had lower % germination and viability) for five species. For the final species, the effect was neutral for spat-out seeds but negative for swallowed seeds. We conclude that macaques are effective seed dispersers in both quantitative and qualitative terms and that they are of potential importance for tropical rain forest regeneration.     

Cheek-pouch dispersal of seeds by Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata yakui) on Yakushima Island, Japan

Seed dispersal by Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata yakui) via cheek-pouch was studied in a warm temperate evergreen forest on Yakushima Island. Plant list was compiled based on a study during 1986–1995, of which troops of monkeys have been habituated without artificial feeding. We followed the well-habituated monkeys in 1993 and 1994 to observe the feeding behavior and their treatments of fruits and seeds, and collected seeds dispersed by monkeys to record the distance carried from the mother trees. We checked the difference of germination ratio between seeds dispersed via cheek-pouch and seeds taken from mother trees by sowing experiments. Seeds and acorns of 22 species were observed to be dispersed via cheek-pouch of monkeys. Among them, three species with acorns were never dispersed via feces, and 15 species with drupes were seldom dispersed via feces. Plant species of which seeds are dispersed only via cheek-pouch had larger seeds than those of dispersed both via cheek-pouch and via feces, and typically had only one or two seeds in a fruit. As for one of cheek-pouch dispersal species,Persea thunbergii, the mean distance when seeds were carried from the mother trees via cheek-pouch was 19.7 m, and the maximum distance was as long as 105 m although more than 80% of seeds were dispersed within 30 m from mother trees. And 82% of seeds dispersed via cheek-pouch germinated. The easy separation of seeds from other parts of the fruit seems to facilitate cheek-pouch dispersal more than dispersal via feces. Cheek-pouch dispersal by monkeys has possibly enhanced the natural selection for larger seeds which bring forth larger seedlings with high shade-tolerance. In conclusion, cheek-pouch dispersal by monkeys is quite an important mode for trees in the mature stand in a warm temperate evergreen forest on Yakushima Island.     

Evidence of Eelgrass (Zostera marina) Seed Dispersal by Northern Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin) in Lower Chesapeake Bay

The initial discovery in May 2009 of eelgrass (Zostera marina) seeds in fecal samples of wild-caught northern diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin) was the first field evidence of eelgrass seed ingestion in this species. This finding suggested the potential of terrapins as seed dispersers in eelgrass beds, which we sampled for two additional years (2010 and 2011). Seeds were only found in feces of terrapins captured prior to June 8 in all three years, coinciding with eelgrass seed maturation and release. Numbers of seeds in terrapin feces varied annually and decreased greatly in 2011 after an eelgrass die off in late 2010. The condition of seeds in terrapin feces was viable-mature, germinated, damaged, or immature. Of terrapins captured during time of seed release, 97% were males and juvenile females, both of which had head widths <30 mm. The fraction of individuals with ingested seeds was 33% for males, 35% for small females, and only 6% for large (mature) females. Probability of seed ingestion decreased exponentially with increasing terrapin head width; only males and small females (head width <30 mm) were likely to be vectors of seed dispersal. The characteristic that diamondback terrapins have well-defined home ranges allowed us to estimate the number of terrapins potentially dispersing eelgrass seeds annually. In seagrass beds of the Goodwin Islands region (lower York River, Virginia), there were 559 to 799 terrapins, which could disperse between 1,341 and 1,677 eelgrass seeds annually. These would represent a small proportion of total seed production within a single seagrass bed. However, based on probable home range distances, terrapins can easily traverse eelgrass meadow boundaries, thereby dispersing seeds beyond the bed of origin. Given the relatively short dispersion distance of eelgrass seeds, the diamondback terrapin may be a major source of inter-bed seed dispersal and genetic diversity.     

Differential passage time of mistletoe fruits through the gut of honeyeaters and flowerpeckers: effects on seedling establishment

McKey's (1975) hypothesis that avian dispersers with a specialized gut provide higher quality seed dispersal than unspecialized frugivores was tested using grey mistletoe (Amyema quandang) fruits, and captive mistletoebirds (Dicaeum hirundinaceum) and spinycheeked honeyeaters (Acanthagenys refogularis) in arid South Australia. Mistletoebirds have a specialized gut, unlike spiny-cheeked honeyeaters. The gut passage time of A. quandang fruits through mistletoebirds was 820±29 s (mean±SE, n=188), compared to 2434±36 s (n=436) for honeyeaters. The seeds defecated by both bird species were deployed on twigs of host trees. Despite the longer retention time of fruit in the gut of honeyeaters, the germination percentage of seeds defecated by mistletoebirds (85% of 485 seeds) and honeyeaters (81% of 485 seeds) did not differ significantly 1 week after deployment. However, after 5 months, a significantly greater proportion of seedlings had established from seeds passed by mistletoebirds (42.7%) than from seeds defecated by honeyeaters (31.1%). The data support the notion that the more gentle treatment of seeds in the gut of specialized dispersers translates into higher seedling establishment.     

Prevalence of Eimeria macusaniensis (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) in midwestern Lama spp

To compare the prevalence of Eimeria macusaniensis among midwestern llamas (Lama glama), alpacas (Lama pacos), and guanacos (Lama guanicoe), feces were obtained from Lama spp. in 10 states between October 1989 and February 1996. Feces were examined by centrifugal flotation in sugar solution (specific gravity--1.28-1.30), and oocysts were quantified by a modified McMaster method. Data were compared by host species and age classifications. Typical oocysts occurred in samples from 28% of 76 herds and 10.4% of 443 animals including 12% of 301 llamas, 7% of 115 alpacas, and 7.4% of 27 guanacos. Prevalence was significantly greater (P = 0.009) in animals < 1 yr of age in comparison to older animals for llams (22.1 v.s. 8.5%) and for all Lama spp. combined (17.1 vs. 8.4%). Fecal oocyst abundance was significantly greater (P = 0.001) in llamas < 1 yr of age in comparison to older llamas (30 vs. 16 oocysts per g of feces). Fecal oocyst intensities did not differ significantly. Prevalence in both age groups of midwestern llamas was greater than previously reported for llamas in the western United States. Prevalence in midwestern alpacas < 1 yr of age was lower than reported for alpacas of similar age in South America, but oocyst intensities were similar. These results indicate that infection with E. macusaniensis is more common in Lama spp. in North America than previously recognized.